Page 54 of Head Over Feels
AvoiceIdidn't recognize was saying, "Andthey end up having a lot of hot tentacle sex."
ThenFelixsaid, "Yeah,Cole, you’ve got to check it out.I'llsend you the link."
Islowed down considerably before rounding the bend where they’d be able to see me.Wasthis some porn siteIwasn't hip enough to know about?OrthoseJapanesecomics?Theweight of the years between me andFelixpulled at my soul.
Grittingmy teeth,Icrutched my way around the path until the hot tub was in view.NexttoColewas a blond guy who appeared to be even younger thanFelix, and the other newcomer was a tall, heavyset guy with a beard.
Everyonelooked up when my crutches hit the wooden steps up to the deck.
"Malcolm!"Felixshouted.Yep, that was a margarita in his hand.Coleand the blond guy were also brandishing them, but the bigger guy was sticking with water.
"Hey.Isthere room for one more?Myhip is killing me."
"Sure, sure."Felixstood up and shuffled closer to the larger guy.Therewas already plenty of room, butIappreciated the gesture.
Felixintroduced me to his buddies.Stevewas the blond one andCalwas the heavyset one.
"Colehad the best idea!"Felixtold me as he helped me over the edge of the hot tub.SteveandCaleyed me curiously, but they didn't act repulsed by my leg.IguessedI'dlet them stay a little bit longer.
"Yeah?"Iraised an eyebrow atCole.Hopefullyhis idea didn't have anything to do with tentacles.
Felixgave me a rambling account of a potential dating app ideaColewas apparently going to be working on withSteveandCal.Iwasn't qualified to evaluate the potential market for such a venture, butIcould tellFelixwas excited about it.Couldbe he considered this some sort of reparation for whatever harm he thought he’d done to the guys he'd gone out with.
AfterIexpressed the appropriate level of enthusiasm for their new venture,Iasked whatIreally wanted to know. "SowhenIwas walking over here, one of you was talking about tentacles."Iraised my eyebrows and looked between all of them.
Stevewas the first to crack. "It'sthis online sci-fi serial storyFelixandCalintroduced me to.It’scompletely addicting.Thetwo main characters are arch enemies, but hopelessly in lust with each other.Andone of them is an alien with tentacles."
"Huh."Iwanted to make some sort of crack about gettingFelixto read a chapter to me, but it wasn't anythingIwanted to say in front of his friends.
"So,Malcolm,"Steve'svoice had a smarmy quality to it that madeFelixgroan and cover his face. "Felixhas not been very forthcoming about the relationship status between the two of you.Wouldyou care to comment?"
Ieyed him.Hewas being a bratty little shit, butIdidn't blame him for asking.Ifhe andFelixwere good friends, this was probably his way of showing it.
Still,Iwas not about to answer that question when, no matter howIfelt aboutFelix, there was no way he wanted to settle for a broken-down, crusty old guy like me.
"Nocomment.Fuckoff."
Stevegrinned, andColesnorted into his margarita.
"Steve, leave it alone."Felix'svoice was sharp.
Steveshrugged and tipped his margarita glass to suck down the last of it. "Fine.I'mjust trying to look out for you."
Cal, who’d been mostly silent up til now, said, "Felixis an adult,Steve.He'lltell us when there's something we should know."Hesaid toCole, "Thankyou for having us over, butIthinkIneed to getStevehome."Calwas my favorite.
"No, we can stay longer,"Stevewhined.
"It'sgetting late, andFelixhas got to be tired after everything that's happened.Anddidn't you want to read a couple more chapters ofCaptainStarbladetonight?"
Stevebrightened. "Oh, right.That'sa great idea.AlittleLordVardoxbefore bedtime makes my dreams soooo much better."CalandFelixexchanged a glanceIcouldn't interpret.
"Youguys are welcome anytime,"Colesaid. "Felix, will you give them my contact information?"Heturned toSteveandCal. "Iwas serious about wanting to see your business plan.Puttogether as much of it as you can on your own, andI'llhelp you with the rest.Jason'sbrotherBrianis good at things like that too.Wecan have him take a look at it to check if we missed anything."
Colestepped gracefully out of the hot tub and offered towels toCalandSteve.Felixsat on the edge and swung his legs over the side. "Ishould see them out."Hisbruises were getting larger and darker.Iwanted to offer to put some arnica cream on them, butIfelt awkward about suggesting it.
Onceeveryone else had gone inside,Iwas bored in the hot tub by myself.Thesafer choice would be to wait forFelixto return, but surelyIcould get out without any assistance.
Istood up with my hand on the edge and evaluated my options.Mycrutches were on the ground, so they were no help.Iknelt on the seat with my good leg, then put my chest and belly along the rim of the hot tub.Iswung my bad leg over the side, soIwas straddling it on my stomach.Grimacingat the pinch to my cock and balls and the pull on my chest hair,Ipushed off with my left leg and swung my hips over the side.Imanaged to land mostly on my good leg which, let me tell you, was a feat ofOlympicachievement.
